skip to main content
Language:
Search Limited to: Search Limited to: Resource type Show Results with: Show Results with: Search type Index

Impact of COVID-19 on routine primary healthcare services in South Africa

South African medical journal, 2021-08, Vol.111 (8), p.714-719 [Peer Reviewed Journal]

COPYRIGHT 2021 Health & Medical Publishing Group ;ISSN: 0256-9574 ;EISSN: 2078-5135 ;DOI: 10.7196/SAMJ.2021.v111i8.15786 ;PMID: 35227349

Full text available

Citations Cited by
  • Title:
    Impact of COVID-19 on routine primary healthcare services in South Africa
  • Author: Pillay, Y ; Pienaar, S ; Barron, P ; Zondi, T
  • Subjects: Control ; COVID-19 - prevention & control ; COVID-19 - transmission ; Epidemics ; Health Services Accessibility - standards ; Health Services Accessibility - statistics & numerical data ; Humans ; Influence ; Primary health care ; Primary Health Care - statistics & numerical data ; Primary Health Care - trends ; South Africa ; Statistics
  • Is Part Of: South African medical journal, 2021-08, Vol.111 (8), p.714-719
  • Description: Background The COVID-19 pandemic and responses by governments, including lockdowns, have had various consequences for lives and livelihoods. South Africa (SA) was one of the countries that implemented severely restrictive lockdowns to reduce transmission and limit the number of patients requiring hospitalisation. These interventions have had mixed consequences for routine health services.Objectives To assess the impact of COVID-19 and restrictions imposed to limit viral transmission on routine health services in SA.Methods Data routinely collected via the District Health Information System in 2019 and 2020 were analysed to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.Results Access to public health services between March 2020 and December 2020 was limited in all provinces. However, this was not linear, i.e. not all services in all provinces were similarly affected. Services most severely affected were antenatal visits before 20 weeks, access to contraceptives, and HIV and TB testing. The impact on outcomes was also noticeable, with a measurable effect on maternal and neonatal mortality.Conclusions The responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, including different levels of lockdowns, the limitation of health services, lack of staff as a result of COVID-19 infection, and fear and stigma, resulted in a reduction in access to routine health services. However, the picture varies by type of service, province and district, with some faring worse than others. It is important to ensure that routine services are not significantly affected during future COVID-19 waves. This will require careful planning on the part of service providers and optimal communication with patients and communities.
  • Publisher: South Africa: Health and Medical Publishing Group (HMPG)
  • Language: English
  • Identifier: ISSN: 0256-9574
    EISSN: 2078-5135
    DOI: 10.7196/SAMJ.2021.v111i8.15786
    PMID: 35227349
  • Source: Sabinet African Journals Open Access Collection
    African Journals Online (Open Access)
    GFMER Free Medical Journals
    MEDLINE
    Alma/SFX Local Collection
    DOAJ Directory of Open Access Journals
Back to results list
INSPIRE LIBRARY - TON DUC THANG UNIVERSITY (84-028) 37 755 057 Feedback
19 Nguyen Huu Tho St. Dist.7, HCM thuvien@tdtu.edu.vn

Copyright © 2017 INSPIRE LIBRARY - TON DUC THANG UNIVERSITY

Searching Remote Databases, Please Wait